Building comparison
head to head
MercsvsSuper Mario World
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is execution, and it is a single point.
Mercs
Execution · Pure Mechanics
Arcade run-and-gun testing crowd dodging and spawn memorisation.
Super Mario World
Execution · Pure Mechanics
Precise jump execution across fixed levels with secrets to memorise.
Mercs leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); Super Mario World leans Execution (Pure Mechanics).
MercsSuper Mario World
Axis by axis
Execution8 vs 7
Mercs leans a little harder on execution, though the gap is small.
Mercs
Run-and-gun crowd weaving at arcade pace is everything
Super Mario World
Perfect inputs trivialise every jump, spin and cape flight
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Mercs
Soldiers spawn on fixed scripts
Super Mario World
Scripted Koopas adapt to nothing
Variance1 vs 1
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Mercs
Spawn tables barely vary between credits
Super Mario World
Levels are fixed; nothing hidden survives one playthrough
Optimization5 vs 4
Mercs leans a little harder on optimization, though the gap is small.
Mercs
Weapon pickups and route memorisation stretch each credit
Super Mario World
Secret exits and route knowledge add a modest solvable layer
A matching score does not mean a matching test. Two games can both sit at 10 on execution and demand completely different things of you - which is why the reasoning above matters more than the number beside it.